NASUWT advice re school closures etc

[noblegiraffe]

Some much welcome and comprehensive advice from the NASUWT www.nasuwt.org.uk/uploads/assets/uploaded/09f46f4e-4971-4be4-aa87fbc8792942eb.pdf

Including advice for vulnerable staff members who may need to stay off work, pay around self-isolation and so on.

Importantly - if the schools close, teachers should not be required to go in, especially not to ‘help with deep cleaning’ (as suggested on another thread ), potential issues around safeguarding and recording of online sessions etc.

And “There should be no attempt made to split or double up classes or increase class sizes to accommodate teacher absence. If this is proposed in your school then contact should immediately be made with the NASUWT for advice.”

"How to make and keep friends" version Ofsted

Jfc.

Yes schools are probably being used like this.

This is why we need specific guidance and directives regarding any teachers (and pupils) with at risk conditions.

I don’t think so, piggy. I think that we are expected to remain invincible, like doctors and nurses. When they say ‘others’, they mean acceptable others, like young and healthy parents with expendable jobs, or other kids.

Just thinking that a headteacher is probably less likely to catch it from the kids because they never see them.

Noble - nailed it!
Pretty much all of our SLT are isolated anyway!

Yup. And ofsted individuals don't work directly with kids. I know a few.

I think the unions should do proper risk assessments to protect staff and withdraw our labour.

This though either my lea or maybe just my school have done this, but withdrawal but have spoken to some of us with asthma etc.

Not sure noble : this was not a government medic saying this : his tone was clear... he talks about turning on and off a tap of infection.

Even Caroline Criado Perez , who tweeted yesterday and who I adore, doesn't really seem to get that adults work with all these walking germs.

You’re right that teachers get a very bad press. That’s why a faceless government who don’t face the public daily and have secure jobs should be taking the decision out of individual hands and schools should close.

My comments were more about the tone of relying on union rules in such an emergency. As I said above whatever rules a government put in place if teachers don’t work or parents keep children off there isn’t much a government can do.

Maybe set up areas for parents to pick up food parcels in the next few days then close.

Government or local councils (with national finance) to set up areas for food, not schools - might be abused by some but better than really poor children not eating at all.

Vic Goddard (of Educating Essex) is trying to organise with heads in his area for FSM kids to get supermarket vouchers.

Even Caroline Criado Perez , who tweeted yesterday and who I adore, doesn't really seem to get that adults work with all these walking germs.

(Love Invisible Women!!) I think that it’s acknowledged that kids are walking germs and they share bottles and don’t wash their hands. Are adults in a school at the same risk as the kids? Even when some bug is sweeping through a class, I don’t tend to get ill and I assumed that wasn’t because I have some amazing immune system, but because I’m diligently washing my hands before I eat my lunch and don’t beg people for a bite of their breaktime waffle.

I always heard that that is because most illnesses are mild, and, as adults, we have built up our immunities. Also, lots of teachers battle on through illnesses.

I have always had a cast iron constitution : but no one is immune to this.

Local headteacher diagnosed. School now closed.

I've battled one through many illnesses at work, including severe hypothyroidism which wasn't very bright but I felt unable to take sick leave. I don't look ill. (This was a long time ago)

I must say since I've been diagnosed with asthma and it's got worse, that something I'm unable to battle on with. Speaking and using my voice makes it worse. viruses are my biggest trigger and I fear them every winter. I find the associated fatigue the hardest thing to recover.

Must be a hands on teacher!

If they're not testing anymore, how will schools know to shut in those situations?

@TheDrsDocMartens

Which county is that?

no one is immune to this.

I totally understand the concern. I was pregnant during swine flu, which was particularly deadly to pregnant women and had to keep coming into school. Eventually I conducted my own risk assessment, decided that I was uncomfortable with the risk and started my maternity leave early. Not particularly early, but I did lose some money and leave over it. I think that particularly vulnerable teachers should be doing the same thing, re personal risk assessments and taking their own action - schools and governments won’t be making policy with them in mind.

However, for teachers that are not in vulnerable groups, I don’t think that we can be complaining about being at personal risk and demanding that schools are closed for our benefit when GP receptionists and hospital workers are still expected to turn up to work. We are also frontline workers.

I don't think most teachers (or any?) choose the profession because of its level of endangerment. GPs, nurses ,paramedics, GP receptionists know they are working with sick people. That is a difference.

I do genuinely believe the economy is driving this along with an (untested) desire to create herd immunity.

ps I got swine flu, too! I had very young children at the time . It was horrific!

And what about supermarket workers, delivery drivers dropping off food to isolated people? What about their level of endangerment? Parents who have kids in school - one step removed.

Pretty much all of us are in danger of getting it because it’s a global pandemic. If want to guarantee not getting it, then it’s cabin in the woods time until a vaccine is available.

economy is driving this along

I’m not so sure any more. I think we need to keep the kids away from their grandparents, the doctors, nurses, GP receptionists, supermarket workers, delivery drivers etc at work. That’s not an economic argument, but a health and safety infrastructure one.

And the herd immunity argument makes sense (yes I know that people aren’t convinced of the actual details, I’m talking about the reasoning). It’s unpalatable, but if the kids get it and that helps prevent the elderly getting it down the line...the evidence is that the kids won’t die of it.

Yes, got that but kids see grandparents regularly , not just because a school closes. Grandparents may well be doing school runs and pick ups. People gather in school playgrounds etc.

It's unlikely a supermarket delivery person will spend any length of time with a person they are delivering to. I wouldn't be keen on working in a shop, now, certainly. It suddenly feels like supermarket workers are frontline staff, too.

No easy answers but I just need to be told why we are so at variance with every other country...

just need to be told why we are so at variance with every other country...

Because the scientists here don’t think that what every other country is doing will work in the long term. They say that if you suppress it now, that will only have a short term impact and there will be another peak later on, as happened with swine flu. There’s some evidence that cases are creeping back up in China as restrictions are lifting.

If you are a member of a union, YOU ARE THE UNION. Collectively with other members. Stop describing the union as a separate entity. Union officers can't fly in with magic capes and forces schools to do something. The most successful union action is always members working collectively.

Your reps are elected by you. If you want a risk assessment done, then ask your rep. Or become the health and safety rep for your school. If you want the rep to raise something, ask them. They act on behalf of members, they can only raise what members ask them to.

I did that breathless. Mine told me she would try and catch up with the head before Easter...

I would then contact the branch or district secretary, the info should be on membership card or website.